Gulls Catch Barracuda In Overtime
Max Comtois scores game-winning goal to net San Diego the crucial extra point
Feb 29, 2020Troy Terry scored two third-period goals and Max Comtois scored 2:49 into overtime with his fourth game-winning goal the last six games to erase a late two-goal deficit as the Gulls beat the San Jose Barracuda 4-3 in overtime Saturday afternoon at SAP Center.
Comtois’ winning goal marked his eighth goal his last eight games (8-3=11) as San Diego improved to 5-1-0-0 the last six games in addition to points in seven of its last eight games (6-1-1-0).
Terry’s two goals mark his first multi-goal and fourth multi-point performance of the season (2-0=2). Justin Kloos and Josh Mahura each recorded two helpers in the win (0-2=2). In addition, Gulls captain Sam Carrick extended his point streak to six games (2-5=7), marking his fourth six-game point streak this season, the only player in the league with a four point streaks of six games or more. Goaltender Kevin Boyle made 29 saves for his third consecutive win and seventh overall this season, including all four shots faced in overtime.
Alex Dostie got the Gulls on the board first when he netted his 11th of the season 5:33 into the opening period. Justin Kloos knocked the puck free at the Gulls blue line for Chris Mueller, creating an odd-man rush with the veteran center’s pass finding Dostie back door to fire the puck past Barracuda netminder Zachary Sawchenko.
San Jose netted a pair of goals before the end of the period to take a 2-1 lead before the first intermission. Anthony Greco tallied the first goal on a simple wrist shot from the left faceoff circle at the 15:40 mark of the period. Just 1:46 later, Jeffrey Viel recorded the second when he deflected a Nick DeSimone point shot in front of the net.
The Gulls paced the Barracuda 9-6 in shots after 20 minutes but trailed where it mattered as San Jose held a 2-1 lead on the scoreboard.
The Barracuda recorded a series of shots on Boyle early in the second period that caused the goaltender to lose his stick. Boyle held strong and stopped each chance, including all 12 shots by San Jose in the middle frame. However, the Gulls were also unable to score on any of their 10 shots during the period.
San Jose extended their lead to 3-1 just 22 seconds into the third period as Jayden Halbgewachs potted a goal. A battle for the puck behind the net resulted in San Jose gaining control and throwing it to the slot where Halbgewachs beat Boyle from inside the slot.
San Diego answered 49 seconds later as Terry scored his first of the night when Carrick capitalized on a San Jose turnover in the offensive zone and took the puck behind the net, made a no-look backhand pass right to Terry’s stick in the slot who beat Sawchenko glove side for the tying goal.
Terry tipped Alex Broadhurst’s shot from the point with 5:52 in regulation for his second of the night and fifth of the season to tie the game at three apiece. With the assist, Broadhurst picked up an assist for his ninth point over last eight games (3-6=9).
With under 30 seconds in regulation, San Jose rang the cross bar to nearly seal a win on home ice, but to no avail as overtime was needed this afternoon.
Boyle was tested early in the extra period of play with three great scoring opportunities in the first minute of overtime, including an odd-man rush and a 2-on-0 breakaway.
San Diego gained momentum from the series of incredible saves by Boyle and used it to their advantage as Comtois scored the overtime-winning goal 2:49 into the extra period. Mahura used a great pass to create a two-on-one rush for Kloos and Comtois, with the diminutive Kloos toe-dragging around a San Jose defender and forcing a shot on net. Sawchenko blocked the puck, but the rebound popped up in the air and Comtois batted it into the back of the net for a Gulls win.
The Gulls have now won four straight games over San Jose, improving to 29-16-3-1 all-time over the Barracuda. The Gulls concluded a stretch of 14 games over a 30-day period from Jan. 31-Feb. 29 (six home, eight road) with a 10-2-2-0 record and finished February with a 9-2-2-0 mark to improve to 40-10-3-1 in the month all-time.
The Gulls will continue their seven-game road trip against the Barracuda Friday, Mar. 6 at San Jose (7 p.m.).